Michigan has not beaten USC since the 1980s.
Okay, that’s a bit deceiving. Michigan and USC have only played twice since then (2004 and 2007 Rose Bowl Games). The fact that it’s been so long since these schools played is a travesty. Getting these old-school, blue-blood programs to play each other feels like resurrecting the classic Pac12-Big Ten Rose Bowl clashes in Pasadena of a bygone era.
Under normal circumstances, the college football purist in me would be ecstatic. (And, okay, it still is). But these are not normal circumstances.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK THING.
Mixed in with the nostalgia is palpable apprehension – and with good reason.
The Ghost of John O’Korn™ returned this season and possessed the body of Davis Warren. After initial resistance, Michigan finally got tired of seeing The Ghost of Thanksgiving’s Past and named Alex Orji the starter this week.
Orji’s strengths and weaknesses are well-documented. His freakish ability as a runner and athlete is enough to make defenses hesitate; often giving him (or his running back) the extra space needed to make a play. But his much-maligned throwing ability is the reason (apparently) that he lost the job to Warren to begin with. It seems that throwing the ball is . . . uh . . . important for a quarterback.
OKAY, THERE MIGHT BE MORE QUESTIONS THAN JUST QUARTERBACK.
This week’s podcast documented all this and more: the import of more carries for Kalel Mullings, the liability of Evan Link ever seeing the field, and the lack of fundamental discipline by the defense. It was a cathartic episode for me, except I did not feel better having ranted about the maize & blue for 45 minutes. Maybe it was more screaming into the void. Semantics!
My biggest question – not only question! – is whether or not Michigan gives Orji a chance to succeed. Do the play calls lean into his strengths while keeping a defense honest – or is it predictable? Essentially, is this Alex Orji’s offense or Alex Orji in Davis Warren’s offense?
Oh! And then add to the list the aforementioned questions on coaching adjustments, running back reps, Wink Martindale blitzing on 48% of snaps (!), and whether or not the defense can tackle in space.
Starting to see why I’m nervous?
STOP STALLING AND MAKE A PREDICTION
USC is Texas But West.
Before you get up in arms, it’s not quite a 1:1 comparison. Texas, along with Georgia and Ohio State, seem firmly in a tier of their own thus far (though the last one on that list has played The MAC And Only the MAC. So, grain of salt).
But USC reminds me a lot of Texas. The Trojans boast a phenomenal quarterback in Miller Moss with one of the most lethal offenses in the country. They, like Texas, also suddenly have a defense (!) which is something that would have probably won Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley a national title. And, of course, they can blow a game open with the dangerous return speed of Zachariah Branch.
Much like the Texas game, Michigan’s strength on defense will face USC’s strength on offense. On the flipside of the ball, it will be critical for Michigan’s offense to [insert poking-with-a-stick-meme] DO STUFF. Against Texas, the only “stuff” they did was turn the ball over and not give the defense a fighting chance. A repeat performance and USC will stuff Michigan in a locker.
On Saturday, Michigan will determine what type of season they’re going to have. Pre-season I concluded that the Wolverines had to split against the behemoths of their schedule to make the playoff: Texas, USC, Oregon, and Ohio State. You’re down to one mulligan; and starting that split 0-2 is almost certainly a death knell for the Wolverine’s playoff hopes.
At this point, I have too many unanswered questions about the identity of this Michigan program.
Would give a spleen to swap USC for Marshall at this critical juncture.
Alas and alack.
SOUTHERN CAL: 27
MICHIGAN: 17
